What is nasal septoplasty?
Nasal septoplasty is a surgical treatment for a deviated nasal septum. It corrects damage (for example, from a sports injury) or deformities of the cartilage in between the nostrils. A minor deviation in the septum is common and doesn’t cause significant health issues. But if the nasal septum deviation is more severe, it can cause nasal obstruction and affect breathing. A deviated septum can also lead to nighttime snoring and development of sleep apnea. A severely deviated nasal septum can cause insufficient nasal drainage from the sinuses, which can lead to chronic rhinosinusitis. Both of these side effects are serious health concerns that require treatment from an experienced ENT specialist.

Why is nasal septoplasty performed?
Nasal septoplasty is usually performed to help relieve nasal obstruction that is impeding air flow. It may also be performed in addition to other surgical procedures, including turbinoplasty and sinus surgery, which also increase the size of the nasal passageway.

What does nasal septoplasty involve?
The first step is a consultation with ENTinCayman, to discuss your symptoms and medical history. The doctor will also conduct a painless physical exam of your upper respiratory tract.

General anaesthesia is required for nasal septoplasty. In most cases, post-surgical recovery is quick, and the patient can return home a few hours after the operation. During the procedure, the surgeon straightens the deviated nasal septum cartilage, removing any excess bone structures and repositioning the cartilage to the center of the nose. This requires an inch-long incision in the inner portion of the nose (no external scarring). After the nasal septum has been repaired, the surgeon closes the incision using stitches and inserts a pair of silicone splints to support the repaired nasal septum. The silicone splints are painlessly removed a few days later in the ENTinCayman office. Our approach to nasal septoplasty does not require nasal packing after the surgery, in most cases.

Immediately after the nasal septoplasty procedure, patients experience initial swelling and a stuffy nose. A postoperative regime of nasal saline rinses plus moisturizing nasal cremes and lotions is required to keep the nasal passageway open. Those components are provided by ENTinCayman and must be applied for approximately two weeks. Usually, patients report a substantial improvement in nasal airflow soon after the surgical procedure.

What are the benefits of nasal septoplasty?
In the long term, patients can expect improved breathing, a restored sense of smell (which can be drastically diminished by a constricted airway), better sleep (when the septum is in proper shape, allowing maximum airflow, patients are less likely to suffer from from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea), and a decreased occurrence of sinus infection, nose bleeds and headaches. Improving the nasal passageway ensures proper drainage of the sinuses, which reduces nasal stuffiness and pressure-induced headaches).

ENTinCayman performs nasal septoplasty at Cayman Islands Hospital (Health Service Authority) and Doctors Hospital (private hospital) in George Town, Grand Cayman. This type of surgery is usually perfomed under general anaesthesia to minimize discomfort. In most cases, patients can go home a few hours after the surgery. If certain conditions require a hospital stay, patients are discharged from the ward the next morning.